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California Costal Commission Report

In a report released Friday, the staff cites that the proposed expansion would "result in significant impacts to views, visual quality and coastal recreation through the substantial loss of already limited waterfront area and open space."

The current proposal will now go before the 12-member Coastal Commission during an Oct. 10 meeting.

The proposed expansion would result in a Convention Center that has 2.75 million square feet of contiguous floor space.

Supporters say the expansion is vital to keeping San Diego's iconic Comic-Con convention in the city. They also claim the current convention is currently missing out on an estimated 25 major gatherings a year due to its limited floor space.

Interim San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, a supporter of the project, is hopeful the expansion plan in development since 2008 will continue.

"I’m optimistic they will support our request," Gloria said in a press release. "We will continue to work to address the issues raised by Coastal Commission staff.”

I wonder if the coastal commission noticed the "open space" (probably with a great view) on the roof of the new expansion portion? If it really gets built that way it looks like more open space to wait for Hall H than ever before!

The story should note that according to Scripps Institution of Oceanography studies climate change will cause regular flooding in the area. Hope they're planning an expansion that's meant to be partially under water.

What part of fails to comply with the California Coastal Act do Todd Gloria and the other expansion boosters don't get? Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Mr. Gloria and his allies are actively trying to violate state law. Let's hope the Coastal Commission upholds and enforces the Coastal Act and denies the current proposal. Gloria and friends can come back later with a proposal that complies with the law if they wish.

The Port's plan failed because they did not read the Coastal Act. If they did they would know that our Protected Coastal View Corridor to San Diego Bay includes the view from the new Pedestrian Bridge over Harbor Drive. The Port's design consultant are at fault for the square southwest corner of the structure which limited our Protected View Corridor for no good reason. Sloppy.

In addition, instead of the new 500 room luxury Hotel Tower on top of the Parking Structure as planned and approved by the City Council. The location of the Tower was moved to the Northwest of the Parking Structure, further block our Protected View Corridor, but now to the South. The effects of these two design flaws are responsible for the staff recommendation to DENY,

If Port staff or Port Commissioners read the former agreements, they would know that the next project planned for the Convention Center would be to increase public access to our free Waterfront by construction of a Pedestrian Bridge at Fourth Avenue, and new Wayfinding Signs to encourage public use of Embarcadero Marina Park South, and a Public View Patio on the Second Floor of the Convention Center that is never used by the public. The Public View Patio is seen by locals as private and off limits.